Abu Musab al Zarqawi is hot right now. He masterminded not only Berg's murder but also the Madrid carnage on March 11, the bombardment of Shia worshippers in Iraq the same month, and the April 24 suicide attack on the port of Basra. But he is far from a newcomer to slaughter. Well before 9/11, he had already concocted a plot to kill Israeli and American tourists in Jordan. His label is on terrorist groups and attacks on four continents.

IN last week's elections, the world's largest democracy - India - booted an economically progressive, peace-seeking government that had supported the United States to a degree unprecedented for New Delhi, and returned a notoriously corrupt party of obsolete demagogues to power.
It was a triumph for democracy, and good news for America.

Backpacker Joanne Lees told police in Australia she feared she was going to be raped and killed after she and her boyfriend were flagged down by a gunman on an isolated Outback road. Her statement was read to a court as a mechanic was charged with the murder nearly three years ago of Peter Falconio, who disappeared leaving only a pool of his blood on the road. The disappearance and suspected killing of Mr Falconio, who has not been seen since he stopped his orange Volkswagen camper van for another motorist and apparently was murdered on 14 July, 2001, remains one of Australia’s most perplexing crimes.

So far, A-Rod looks a lot better in New York than Jeter does playing next to A-Rod in New York. They are only a few yards apart when they are out there in the infield. At the plate, they have been worlds apart. This is the way Reggie Jackson hit once when Dave Winfield got to town, back when Winfield was the new guy.